Farm irrigation wheel

Abstract

A wheel having a circular ring is provided. The circular ring has a rotational axis and an outer surface. A plurality of lugs is mounted in side-by-side positions on said outer surface of the circular ring. Each lug of the plurality of lugs has: a center rib, a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other, and a plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib. The outermost point of each center rib may form a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis. The wheel may have a rim nested within said circular ring, said rim having a plurality of alternating scalloped protrusions. The plurality of lugs may include high traction lugs having plates with distal edges configured to radially extend beyond the center rib to provide traction to the wheel on difficult terrain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel comprising:
 a circular ring having:
 an outer surface; and 
 a rotational axis; and 
   a plurality of lugs mounted in side-by-side positions on said outer surface of the circular ring, each lug having:
 a center rib; 
 a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other; 
 a first lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib; and 
 a second lug plate adapted to connect the second leg to the center rib; 
   wherein the plurality of lugs forms a circular pattern that is coaxial with the rotational axis and a distal edge of the first lug plate and a distal edge of the second lug plate are configured to radially extend beyond the center rib.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the wheel is configured to produce a rut in the ground, the rut having a sinusoidal shape. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising a rim nested within the circular ring, said rim having a plurality of alternating scalloped protrusions on an outer perimeter of said rim. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lugs comprises a plurality of paddle lugs having a first plate height and at least one high traction lug having a second plate height, wherein the second plate height is greater than the first plate height. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of lugs is mounted to the circular ring in a repeating pattern, said repeating pattern starting with a first paddle lug, followed by a second paddle lug disposed adjacent to the first paddle lug, and followed by a high traction lug disposed adjacent to the second paddle lug. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein each lug of the plurality of lugs is made of spring steel with an overmolded rubber layer, such that each lug is configured to be compliant. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the first lug plate is disposed on a first plate axis, such that a non-zero first plate angle is defined between the first plate axis and a lug axis. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg form a W-shape with the center rib, and the first lug plate and second lug plate are configured to protrude beyond a top of said W-shape. 
     
     
         9 . A wheel comprising:
 a plurality of lugs mounted in side-by-side positions to form a circular ring, each lug having:
 a center rib; 
 a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other; 
 a first lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib; and 
 a second lug plate adapted to connect the second leg to the center rib; 
   wherein a distal edge of the first lug plate and a distal edge of the second lug plate are configured to radially extend beyond the center rib.   
     
     
         10 . The wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg and second leg form a W-shape with the center rib, and the first lug plate and second lug plate are configured to protrude above said W-shape. 
     
     
         11 . The wheel of  claim 9 , wherein the first lug plate is disposed on a first plate axis, such that a non-zero first plate angle is defined between the first plate axis and a lug axis. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel of  claim 11 , wherein the second lug plate is disposed on a second plate axis, such that a non-zero second plate angle is defined between the second plate axis and a lug axis, wherein the second plate angle is substantially the same as the first plate angle. 
     
     
         13 . A wheel comprising a plurality lugs, each lug of the plurality of lugs comprising:
 a center rib;   a first leg and a second leg, each leg extending from the center rib laterally and opposite of each other;   a first leg paddle associated with the first leg; and   a second leg paddle associated with the second leg.   
     
     
         14 . The wheel of  claim 13 , each lug further comprising a valve stem in pneumatic communication with the center rib, wherein the center rib is an air bladder. 
     
     
         15 . The wheel of  claim 14 , each lug further comprising a first bladder paddle and a second bladder paddle engaged with the center rib. 
     
     
         16 . The wheel of  claim 15 , wherein the first bladder paddle is disposed on a first bladder paddle axis, such that a non-zero first bladder paddle angle is defined between the first bladder paddle axis and a lug axis, and the second bladder paddle is disposed on a second bladder paddle axis, such that a non-zero second bladder paddle angle is defined between the second bladder paddle axis and a lug axis. 
     
     
         17 . The wheel of  claim 16 , wherein the non-zero first bladder paddle angle is substantially the same as the non-zero second bladder paddle angle. 
     
     
         18 . The wheel of  claim 15 , each lug further comprising a pair of front paddles associated with the center rib and disposed on a front end of the lug and a pair of back paddles associated with the center rib and disposed on a back end of the lug. 
     
     
         19 . The wheel of  claim 16 , wherein the first leg paddle and the second leg paddle are both parallel with a lug axis. 
     
     
         20 . The wheel of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of lugs forms a circular pattern that is coaxial with a rotational axis of the wheel.